Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Best Buy Now Sells Unlocked iPhones, But Not the Latest Models
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Just buy directly from Apple.
I did buy a locked XS so I could JB and spoof my GPS location back in January. Now that I am back on T-Mobile, I can get it unlocked soon. I bought my 13 Pro Max unlocked from Apple back in August.
I did buy a locked XS so I could JB and spoof my GPS location back in January. Now that I am back on T-Mobile, I can get it unlocked soon. I bought my 13 Pro Max unlocked from Apple back in August.
I actually switched to AT&T(from T-Mobile) when the first iPhone was released, as they were the only carrier that carried it(hahaha). But since then I went back to the T.
iPhones have no carrier bloatware.
I've purchased Verizon-locked and AT&T-locked iPhones and none had any carrier bloatware.
Android phones are a different story though, but that's because the Android handset manufacturer isn't an 800-lb gorilla like Apple is.
Well, it's a mixed bag my friend. Given our system and rules here, the scramble among the principle carriers to grab users fosters SOME competition for features, as far as that goes.
Anazing! Possibly the only country in the world where you couldn’t buy an unlocked iPhone. But maybe you can’t in North Korea either. What do I know.
You aren't stuck with the carrier because your phone is locked... You're "stuck" because you'll miss out on the deal by forfeiting your remaining monthly credits if you were to leave.
I don't think many people realize how long their phones are actually locked for. T-Mobile will unlock 40 days after activation. Verizon and AT&T will unlock 60 days after activation. (Of course it needs to be paid off, but that makes sense.) It's still a bit dumb, but it's not a big deal as it once was. Pay off your phone and you can move to another carrier within a couple months. The days of being locked with a carrier for two years are long gone.
Yea, you're more "stuck" because you only get the credits monthly to offset the installments, so you need to pay the remainder before you can unlock.
If they are looking for hero points they get a big fat ZERO.
Why would anyone who had decent credit or cash buy a phone from them?
Why would anyone who had decent credit or cash buy a phone from them?
Finally! I have been avoiding using Best Buy for this exact reason. Now I can go and get some unlocked iPhones.
Best Buy today announced that it now sells unlocked iPhones in the U.S., but only older models are available, including the iPhone 12, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, and third-generation iPhone SE. An unlocked iPhone can be used with a wide variety of carriers.
The unlocked iPhones are in brand new condition and are available at all Best Buy stores and on BestBuy.com starting today, a Best Buy spokesperson said in an email.
Best Buy already sold iPhones locked to AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile, and availability of unlocked models will give customers more flexibility. Best Buy operates over 1,000 stores across the U.S., including in many communities that lack an Apple Store.
Best Buy is not carrying unlocked iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro models at this time.
Article Link: Best Buy Now Sells Unlocked iPhones, But Not the Latest Models
Seems to be always present at Apple stores here and big box stores, and thousands of each carrier’s retailers. Not to mention hundreds of online sites. You can get them unlocked, but they are not making it convenient for consumer.
But who wants to spend over $150 a month to have two phone plans? That’s around $1,800 on what? A bit more coverage ? That’s an iPhone new top of the line every year.
Unless you are traveling to places where this is needed, I don’t see the point of getting two plans. Sounds like a waste of money but do you do boo
It's 60 days at Verizon and AT&T, and 40 days at T-Mobile, but at some of the MVNOs (even those owned by one of the big 3 parents) is much longer.
Cricket (owned by AT&T) is 6 months, Boost Mobile is 1 year, Metro by T-Mobile (owned by T-Mobile) is 6 months, Mint Mobile (soon to be owned by T-Mobile) is 12 months, etc... even if the phone is completely paid off.
I did not know that. Every android phone from the carrier I've ever gotten has been chock full of carrier bloat. I had to install the international ROM on my OnePlus to get rid of the T-Mo bloat.
I didn't see so much on my VZW Z Flip 4 this time compared to the insanity when I got the GS8+ years ago.
This is true. I'm wondering if many of the comments here are alluding to a phone being "locked" in terms of the old school 2 year contracts.
Carrier locked phones, many times are based on installment plans. It's tied to the carrier while payments are being made. The device itself, can easily be moved to another carrier.
I know at least with AT&T, if you port, it cancels the line and accellerates the remaining installments which show on the final bill. I don't what VZW or TMo do.
A phone purchased from a carrier is locked regardless of whether you're on an installment plan or you pay it off on day 1.
Most retailers in the USA get a commission. In order to collect the full commission, the user must stay with the provider for a specified period of time. One way to ensure this is to tie the phone to the service provider. The other reason is if you finance your phone or take a service provider's special deal, locking your phone securitizes the "loan" you got to purchase the phone. Without these collateral measures, what is to stop people from failing to meet their financial obligations?
The attached strings are the "price" one pays for financing. If all these strings bother someone, that person should pay cash.
There is no free lunch with phones despite what retailers would like you to believe.